Visting the Sexual Health and Reproductive Education (SHARE) project
In November and December 2023, I had the opportunity and privilege to visit WaterAid Ghana, WaterAid Mozambique, and WaterAid Uganda to work with the teams implementing the Sexual Health and Reproductive Education (SHARE) project, funded by Global Affairs Canada. The five-year SHARE project is being implemented by a consortium led by Right to Play, in collaboration with WaterAid, the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), and technical partner FHI 360. The project will advance gender equality and increase the enjoyment of health-related human rights by the most marginalized and vulnerable right-holders in the three project countries, particularly adolescent girls and young women. WaterAid’s role in the consortium is focused on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities and capacity building of healthcare workers and personnel.
During my time in the three countries, I had the privilege of working with the consortium partners to develop our Year 3 Annual Workplan; discuss some of the lessons learned throughout the first two years of the project; and my favourite part, visit some of the communities where we work. While we have yet to begin the WASH infrastructure construction work in healthcare facilities, it was truly impressive to see how changes are already happening in the facilities I visited.
In the first two years of SHARE, healthcare workers and personnel following the in the project’s targeted healthcare facilities completed facility management training using the World Health Organization’s WASH Facility Improvement Tool (WASH FIT) training establish Facility Improvement Committees that implement the Facility Improvement Plans created through the WASH FIT training.
In speaking with healthcare workers and personnel, I heard about how staff have been taking the initiative to get directly involved in the committees and taking initiative to improve their place of work. This will play an important role in the sustained operations and maintenance of the WASH infrastructure constructed through SHARE.
In Uganda, I had the chance to travel with the SHARE team to Buyende, one of two districts where SHARE is being implemented, to visit some of the healthcare facilities that had participated in the WASH FIT training. The visit to Kakooge Health Center III really stood out to me, as the healthcare workers - from the In-Charge, to the nurses, lab technicians and even the security guard – have become active members of the Facility Improvement Committee that was established following the training. Since then, staff have started meeting every Monday to discuss the work that has been done to improve the facility and what else can be done to ensure the healthcare facility continues to improve. To date, they have established cleaning schedules; they are separating waste according to infection prevention and control standards; they have allocated specific toilets for men and for women; and to encourage staff and patients to use the toilet facilities, they have cleared the pathways to the toilets and installed solar lamps around the toilets. The In-Charge has also begun lobbying the district officials to support the needs of the healthcare facility.
It was incredible to see their commitment to improving their healthcare facility and hear first-hand what the staff had begun putting into practice from the training. And, because they have already begun including all staff in their Facility Improvement Plan, this will ensure the sustainability of the construction work completed through SHARE.
In Ghana, we had a chance to meet with staff from the Katiu Community Health and Planning Services and speak directly with community members. We learned of their challenges, of their health needs, and of their commitments to ensuring the sustainability of the work completed through SHARE. To show their gratitude, the village chief gifted me a goat and shared that this was a “small gesture for the support that has been provided.” To me, this was much more than a “small gesture,” especially for a community whose livelihood depends on livestock and subsistence farming. This was a gift of commitment, showcasing their willingness to be involved in the maintenance of the healthcare facility and the planned construction work. As much as I would have liked to, I could of course not bring the goat back to Canada with me. To respect the customs and culture, WaterAid gifted the goat to the District Health Official.
As part of these trips, I also met with District officials in all three countries. In Mozambique, we had the opportunity to share updates on the SHARE project with the District Registrar of Chongoene. Following the update, they noted their appreciation for WaterAid and the work that has already been conducted, such as the trainings. They also shared their enthusiasm for the planned infrastructure work, especially the provision of water access points as Gaza province has water shortages and very few healthcare facilities have access to water. These meetings play an important role for relationship building and in ensuring the sustainability of our project. Our work would not be possible without the commitment, dedication, and support from local (district) government and my ability to navigate Mozambique wouldn’t have been possible without the translation skills of our WaterAid Mozambique colleagues.
This was a great trip, surrounded by great colleagues and partners! I feel privileged to have had the opportunity and I look forward to the next time.
Nicole Dagher, Head of Program Management, WaterAid Canada
